Lost in the discussion surrounding the L.A. Clippers following their historic punishment is the long-term ramifications of the Kawhi Leonard debacle. In some ways, they got off easier than many might expect even despite losing five personal picks.
Remember, they are still expected to trade Leonard and receive two firsts from the Toronto Raptors. That means they'd only be out of three picks, not five. There is also the possibility of them appealing the NBA's decision and having that penalty knocked down to three first-round picks instead of five.
That would be similar to what happened in the infamous Joe Smith punishment the league levied against the Minnesota Timberwolves. That would be the best-case scenario for the Clippers, since they would only lose out on one first-round pick. Despite that, the damage to the Clippers brand may already be done.
The Clippers continue to prove they are laughing stock of the NBA
The Clippers were already seen as the unloved younger brother of the Los Angeles Lakers. Giving up what turned out to be 10 first-round picks and two pick swaps plus a future League MVP for Leonard and Paul George only made them look like morons in retrospect.
Now, with the Leonard saga hanging over the heads potentially for the next half decade, it's hard to imagine them being a free agent destination. If that's the case, then they likely can't count on the draft or free agency to build a contender in the near future.
Sure, many free agents would love to play in Los Angeles. However, why would they play for the Clippers when they could play for the Lakers, the Golden State Warriors, or even the Sacramento Kings?
Say what you want about the Kings; they are at least ethical losers. While things seem equally as bleak for both franchises, Sacramento actually has most of their picks going forward.
The Clippers are the only ones who want to blame themselves for their problems.
Neither the Raptors nor the Lakers agreed to Leonard and his Uncle Dennis' demands for extra compensation, while the Clippers did. As a result, both teams are in far better shape long-term than the Clippers are.
It could take years for the Clippers to recover, though they were already trending downward. If the NBA holds firm on their punishment, it's possible that the Clippers could be negatively affected well into the 2030s, even beyond the loss of picks.
The NBA's punishment reinforces the notion that this team is a dysfunctional franchise, not capable of winning a championship. However, they were already doing a good job of showing that dysfunction well before the league was forced to step in.
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